uop

There is nothing like having both of your best friend laid off at work. 

It was seriously the worst. 

Sitting in the meeting that it happened. 

Breaks my heart still to not have these ladies here with me. 

Lucky for me, our friendship was not just within the confines of work. 

But it sure was nice to get to work and get paid to spend time with your besties.

I'm so glad both of them have landed on their feet. 

But boy, do I miss them. 

My Phoenix family

(me, Melinda, Jenni & Matt)

When you work 40+ hours a week for 7+ years you build a family. 

These three are some of my nearest and dearest. 

Melinda is now staying home with her cutest boys. 

Jenni is now in San Diego living the beach life with her family. 

And Matt is in California as well. 

It has been a couple of years since all four of us were able to be in the same place at the same time. 

We didn't skip a beat and picked up right were we left off. 

As much as I miss seeing this people on a daily basis at work, 

I'm grateful for the friendships that have been made. 

They are lifelong friends.  

We can see clearly now....

It's the end of the year. 

And all of us are trying to use our benefits before they reset. 

So that means, we all went to the eye doctor in two days. 

And we call came back with some crazy eyes. 

My eyes caused a serious headache.  

So I wore my sunnies inside pretty much the rest of the day. 

Window seat problems. 

This is why i love the people I work with. 

So much. 

such great people. 

so much fun. 

Just another day in the office

I have been reminded several times in the last couple of months how grateful I am for the people I work with. 

You spend countless hours together, so it is important you enjoy each other. 

I am lucky enough to work with some of my best friends. 

Or should I say, some of my best friends have been made through work.

We like to get our fitness on at work and do hourly workouts. 

This day was all sits. 

Hopefully one day our bodies won't resemble desk jobs.

This started with seeing who's legs were longer. 

Then it turned out to great stretching and just laying there. 

Totally normal, right?

Out of office: Sorry we are playing today!

My boss had a great idea for our summer party. 

We closed up shop and headed to Snowbird for the afternoon.

It was so much fun to not have to worry about work and just relax with my co-workers.

Which I am lucky enough to work with some of my best friends.  

Makes it extra fun!

 We had a blast on the Alpine Slide.
Ashley and I may or may not have raced down the slide.
We were flying and sadly got in trouble at the end of the slide.

  This may be one of my favorite pictures.  

Mainly because it took a good 8 or 9 times to have Jason even look up and Ash in the background. 

She was smiling in earlier shots. 

My favorite boss in the world paired along with another favorite, Bricannie.

Such a fun day. 

It is just what all of us needed. 

My Easter Peeps

Every year, University of Phoenix hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for the employees families. 

I have been in charge of this event for 6 years now.  

It is by far my favorite. 

We get to see family. 

There is lots of candy.

Ashley is the cutest Easter Bunny. 

We get off at noon.

and the kids do all the clean up.

We had a little fun while we were setting up.  

My Easter Peeps were get to help set everything up. 

and clearly we are really photogenic.

I know the lighting in this picture is terrible, but I don't have any others with all my kiddos.  

Love them.

So happy Berk and Shanda could join us for the Easter Egg hunt and lunch after wards. 

My kiddos LOVE Berk! 

Great way to start Easter weekend!

Your Office has been Harlem'd

You know you have great co-workers if in literally less than 30 seconds this can happen in your bosses office.

We then sent him an email with the video attached saying, 

"Your office has been Harlem'd.  No office is safe!"

It is days like this that I really appreciate working with people that know how to have a good time. 

Once we started people wanting to keep joining in, including my favorite boss, Darris.  

Take me out to the ball game

 

Sun and the beach.

Christmas and snow. 

Halloween and candy

all go hand and hand like

Baseball and Summer. 

Thank you University of Phoenix for the awesome suite tickets to watch the Bee's game. 

It was a great night with an even better person. 

Meet my friend, Aubree. 

She is great, she recently just moved up from Cedar City and I couldn't be happier for her relocation! 

A visit from Langles!

A highlight of the summer! Amy and Afton came to Utah for a visit. I was so glad I was able to spend an entire afternoon with these girls. It was so much fun and it was like no time has passed with both of us. It still feels like it was a few weeks ago that we sat across from each other in our cubies instead of 2 years ago! WOW!

I can't wait to go to DC and see these cute girls! I can't wait to see you, Langles!

Days like this....

Mama said there'd be days like this, "There'll be days like this," my mama said.

Days like this make me feel grateful.
Days like this make me feel sad.
Days like this make me feel like the world is unfair.
Days like this make me want to go back to the innocent care free world of being a child.
Days like this make me want to give certain people a big hug.
Days like this make me thankful I am not a big boss.
Days like this make me feel grateful that I have a job.

Today, we had 8 people who's positions were eliminated. It was a horrible day for those 8 people. The rest of us are struggling with the emotions of watching people they have worked with for years pack their desk and leave. I have decided that I am no longer getting close to anybody at work. It seems like once I make a really good friend they have to leave me. Then I am left buddy-less (Yes, this goes for you, Langles and Karina) One of my closest friends at work was one of the eight. It was a rough day for her and no words could help the situation. I'm thankful for her positive attitude and outlook on everything. So next time my alarm goes off and I think to myself ... WHY? I will remember that I am incredibly blessed to have a job to go to, a paycheck coming in, people I like to see on a daily basis and a job that I enjoy doing.

Easter Fun

What do you get when you have 500 stuffed eggs, more candy than any person could ever eat, 6 of my favorite kiddos and a creepy Easter Bunny that can only see out of one eye?

The University of Phoenix, Annual Easter Egg Hunt!

I am lucky enough to head up the Party Committee at work with the help of a few other co-workers. We put on a Easter Egg Hunt for the employees family. It is always a good time. I love having my family come and participate in all the fun! The kiddos of course had a ball this year and collected more Easter goodies than they know what to do with!

Snow = the BEST Monday Ever!

ranI have never been one to wish for snow before Thanksgiving. However, this year I did. Why, you ask? Let me tell you. At work I sit in a cubicle. With the lovely world of cubies you have to be considerate with the type of music you listen to. Typcially my music selection doesn't bother my cubie neighbors. We tend to rock out to Michael Jackson, Keith Urban and the Jackson 5. This last week I asked my dear cubie neighbor, Ben or BCBC as I like to call him if he was excited for Christmas music? He proceeded to tell me that I couldn't start playing Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. After much arguing and persuading we came up with an agreement that I could start listening to Christmas music after the first snow fall. During this last week I have been sitting at work with my fingers crossed waiting for the first falling flakes of snow. Luckily on Saturday we received snow in the valley! I instantly started to listen to my favorite Christmas tunes. I can't wait to go to work tomorrow and bust out my Christmas jams.

Now, if it could just be acceptable to put up my Christmas tree already.

Halloween Fun!

I absolutely love Halloween.

I love dressing up.

I love the smell of the cold air.

I love decorations.

I love scary movies.

I love haunted houses.

I LOVE everything about the month of October.

I had many fun Halloween Celebrations this last weekend. We had the University of Phoenix trick or treat event on Thursday. There wasn't as many costumes or trick or treaters, but we still had a great time!

Phoenix's very own Ladybug and Witch Some of my favorite people from work.

Friday, October 30th my little Sophia turned 5 years old. She is no longer my sweet little girl. She is 5! For her birthday in Warnas fashion we partied like it was 1999. Sophia had pizza and bowling at Fat Cats. It was so much fun bowling with the whole family. The whole family loved it.

I love my sisters!

Me, the papa and Christiana

The Birthday girl and her Aunts. She was so sassy this night. It was so funny!

Dylan needed some Aunt Mo love! I love that he isn't too big to get some love from his Auntie.

Soph and her witch cake!

We love our Papa!

Soph said "Big smiles because it is my birthday!' So that is just what we did!

After Fat Cats, I went and got "witched out" and headed to Classic Skating for Talia's sister 30th birthday party. It was a great party.

Talia and TJ were Dr. Seuss's Thing 1 and Thing 2

Best pals!

Saturday, I spent my night cheering on the Utes with my friends: Jillian, Shaun and Richael. It was a great night with great people. We had a night full of many laughs and so glad we were able to have a night of fun.

Thanks for the win... Keep it up, Utes!

Our night ended going to a LAME haunted house. But we had a good time laughing at all the empty rooms and crazy kids working there.

Until next year October. Come back quick!

Never too big to go to the zoo!

Friday Night Fun Checklist

1. A night with NO rain Check!

2. Friends Check!

3. Family Check!

4. Utah's Hogle Zoo Check!

This weekend was my company summer party! Nothing like spending a Friday night at Utah's Hogle Zoo. Surprisingly, it was a lot of fun and we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. Ashley and I were very grateful for it being cooler this year since we have had to go early both years to make sure everyone is able to get in! (The joys of being on the party planning committee) There is no better way to see the zoo then having an after hours party with your co-workers. Most of my family came up for a fun night at the zoo. It was fun to have all the kiddos up there (We missed you Gabe & Hadley!) The highlight of the night was playing in the playground with all the kiddos. Ashley & I decided you are never too old for a teeter-totter!

The kiddos thought the spiderweb was really cool! Dylan, Sophia & Chloe chillin in a egg!

What a great way to start the summer off! Can't wait until Mother Nature decides that it is summer too! Thanks UOP for such a great night!

Feeling lucky...

I have recently been promoted into a BRAND new position at work. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to help shape and mold this new position. I am still working at University of Phoenix but now I am a trainer for the finance and academic counselors. This is a perfect fit for me, especially after teaching my class at LDSBC. It was such an amazing experience and can't wait for my next class to start in the fall! It will be fun to "teach" the counselors and coach them towards success! I have worked at UOP for 2 years already and have been given so many incredible opportunities to spread my wings! It makes me so thankful when I watch the news and hear stories of people losing their jobs that I work for a stable company. It is times like these that make you count your blessings!